Ski binding having frangible heel engaging member



R. L. MILLER Aug. 13, 1968 SKI BINDING HAVING FRANGIBLE HEEL ENGAGING MEMBER Filed Oct. 22, 1965 I INVENTOR fwd/ J1. Wikw ATTORNEY United States Patent SKI BINDING HAVING FRANGIBLE HEEL ENGAGING MEMBER Richard L. Miller, Medical Arts Bldg, 330 South St., Waterloo, Iowa 50701 Filed Oct. 22, 1965, Ser. No. 500,905 7 Claims. (Cl. 280-1135) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The ski binding of the present invention includes a novel connector means which is connected with a heel strap that extends about the heel of the ski boot, and there is a frangible connection between the connector and the heel strap that will break and actually separate when subjected to a predetermined force so as to release the heel of an associated ski boot. The fracturable part may be either on the strap or the connector means, and the connector means may be in the form of a resilient coil spring that is attached to the heel strap at either end thereof, and the fracturable means may be headed buttons on the heel strap and which engage in a slot means in the resilient connector means, and there may be one or more of these headed .buttons or other such means that will allow for an adjustment of the heel strap with respect to the connector means, and thus provide for the ski binding being adaptable to be 'used in connection with different sizes and shapes of ski boots.

The present invention relates to a new and novel ski binding, and more particularly to a ski binding for releasably connecting a skiers boot to a ski and to permit full release of the skiers boot when subjected to predetermined forces.

The present invention provides an improvement over conventional full release ski bindings wherein toe engaging means is fixedly mounted on the ski for engaging the toe of the ski boot and heel clamping means is movably mounted on the ski for applying a varying degree of tension to the heel of the ski boot.

These full release type bindings are of course provided for the purpose of preventing injury to a skier when the skier accidentally falls or is thrown into an improper position relative to the ski. The bindings are designed so as to release when a predetermined force is applied thereto.

It has been found in actual practice that conventional full release bindings are not satisfactory due to the fact that the safety release means thereof becomes iced over in use and may become inoperative. Additionally, it is difiicult to obtain the proper adjustment of the tension applied by the ski binding so as to obtain full release of the skiers boot at a certain predetermined force.

The present invention overcomes the difliculties of the prior art by providing certain modifications of the conventional binding arrangement which is fail-safe in operation and always assures full release of the heel of a skiers boot in a forward fall at a predetermined tension force. It will be recognized that the forward fall of the skier relative to a ski is the most dangerous type of a fall, and the arrangement of the present invention assures release when a predetermined force is applied thereto.

In the present invention, the heel clamping means is provided with a portion formed of frangible material which is adapted to break when subjected to a predetermined tension or force to thereby release the heel of the associated ski boot. This frangible portion may in a typical example be formed as a plastic strap whereby the tensile strength can be accurately predetermined so that the binding will always release at exactly the same force.

3,396,986 Patented Aug. 13, 1968 Additionally, it is a simple matter to provide frangible portions of different size so as to provide bindings which will release at different loading. This has the advantage of providing in a most simple and effective manner an arrangement whereby the same bindings can be readily adapted for use with children, with average adults, or for the most advanced skiers.

Means is provided for readily connecting and disconnecting the frangible portions in the present invention so that the frangible portions can be interchanged if it is desired to adjust the binding for release when subjected to different forces, and furthermore, the frangible portion may be readily replaced if it should be broken in use.

The ski binding of the present invention is not as susceptible to icing as is the conventional full release system, and safe operation of the ski binding is assured regardless of icing conditions.

An object of the present invention is to provide a new and novel ski binding which is fail-safe and always assures complete release of the heel of a ski boot in a forward faEll.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a ski binding which assures release at a certain predetermined load, and further wherein means is provided for readily adjusting the binding so as to release at different predetermined loads.

Still another object of the invention is to p'rovide a ski binding which operates independently of the local icing conditions.

Yet another object of the invention is the provision of a ski binding wherein a conventional binding setup maybe employed with certain minor modificatons thereto.

Other objects and many attendant advantages of the invention will become more apparent when considered in connection with the specification and accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of the ski binding according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top view of a portion of the ski binding illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the manner in which certain components are interconnected with one another;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 4-4 of FIG. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 5 is a top perspective view of a portion of a ski binding illustrating the manner in which the heel clamping means may be readily attached to the connector means of the apparatus; and

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal section through the heel engaging portion of the invention illustrating the details of construction thereof.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, a conventional ski is indicated generally by reference numeral 10. The ski binding includes toe engaging means indicated generally by reference numeral 12 which is fixedly secured to the upper surface of the ski and which has a pair of lugs 14 extending outwardly therefrom A conventional ski boot is indicated generally by reference numeral 16 and includes a toe portion 18 and a heel portion 20. The toe portion 18 of the ski boot is adapted to engage the toe engaging means 12, and the sole 22 of the ski boot is adapted to fit snugly under the lugs 14 as seen in FIG. 1.

The heel damping means of the ski binding may comprise a tensioning means 30 in the form of a toggle mechanism or safety release means the rearwardly eX- tending portion 31 of which is curved to receive a connector means 32. This connector means as illustrated comprises a tightly wound tension spring, although the connector means may also comprise a cable having a resilient spring portion connected therewith. In either event, a resilient connector means is provided.

Attaching means 34 is provided at opposite ends of the connector means 32, attaching means 34 taking the form of a generally L-shaped metal lug, one leg portion of which is rigidly secured as by welding to the ends of .the connector means, the other leg of the lugs having a keyhole-shaped slot 36 formed therein for a purpose hereinafter described.

A pair of spaced guide means 40 are fixed to each side of the ski 10 and serve to guide movement of the connector means 32 in a conventional manner whereby a downward pull is assured on the skiers heel when the heel clamping means is moved into the operative position shown in FIG. 1.

A heel engaging portion is indicated generally by reference numeral 44, this heel engaging portion either fitting snugly about the heel portion of the boot or being disposed within a groove provided for such purpose. This heel engaging portion is formed of a suitable frangible material, and as seen most clearly in FIG. 6, a plurality of formed buttons 46 are provided at one side of the heel engaging portion, and a similar plurality of formed buttons are formed at the opposite side thereof and in longitudinally offset relationship to the formed buttons 46. Each of the formed buttons 46 includes an enlarged head portion 46a and a reduced dimension portion 46b. Each of the buttons 48 similarly includes an enlarged head portion 48a and a reduced portion 48b.

As seen particularly in FIG. 3, the enlarged head portions of the buttons 46 are adapted to fit through the enlarged portion of the keyhole slot 36, and the reduced portions of the buttons are adapted to fit snugly within the reduced portion of the keyhole slot. FIG. illustrates the manner in which the heel engaging portion is secured to the attaching means 34, and the arrangement is shown in operative position in FIG. 4.

The heel engaging portion is formed of a suitable frangible material, and the formed buttons are specifically designed so as to shear off when subjected to a predetermined force. The heel engaging portion may comprise a strap of plastic material and the dimensions of the formed buttons may be such that the shear strength thereof can be very accurately predetermined. Different heel engaging portions may be provided for offering various release points for the binding.

In FIG. 2, one of the formed buttons 46 is illustrated as having been sheared away from the main strap portion of the heel engaging portion. When one of the buttons has been so sheared off, one of the other buttons 46 may be employed for re-attaching the heel engaging portion to the attaching means, or the strap may be turned over and the buttons 48 on the opposite side thereof employed for securing the heel engaging portion in position. It is also apparent that by providing a plurality of buttons, the heel engaging portion may be adjusted for different size boots.

It is apparent that the attaching means 34 and the construction of the heel engaging portion is such that the heel engaging portion can be readily attached or replaced as desired so as to provide different release points or to replace the same when one or more of the formed buttons has been sheared off.

The frangible portion may be formed of any suitable frangible material having a tensile or shear strength such that it is adapted to release within the range of forces encountered in normal skiing practice. It should also be noted that various other types of quick attachment means may be employed in place of the lugs 34 such as snaps, clips, screws and the like.

If so desired, the 53055 sectional area of the main strap portion 44 can be chosen so that the entire strap will fail in tension, and in such case, it would not be necessary to provide buttons of such a dimension as to shear off independently of the breaking of the entire strap.

It will be noted that the overall arrangement of the present invention is similar tothat of conventional full release ski bindings with the exception that the resilient connector means 32 has a separate frangible portion-connected therewith, this frangible portion ineludin'g'fa portion which is adapted to break when subjected t ofa certain predetermined force to thereby release the heel of an associated ski boot. I p

As illustrated, the frangible portion of the heel clamping means is illustrated as comprising the heel engaging portion itself. It should be understood that the frangible portion of the heel engaging means may be positioned at some point other than at the heel of the boot and for example could be positioned at the intermediate, point in the connector means 32 rearwardly .of the portion 31 of the tension means and at some point forwardly of the attaching means 34. v v

It is apparent that the heel engaging portion provided at the opposite ends thereof with means to cooperate with the attaching means so that it can be readily connected with the connector means. In the illustrated embodiment, the heel engaging portion 44 is simply provided with formed buttons on the ends thereof which are adapted to engage in the keyhole slots of lugs 34. Where other types of attachment means are employed, the heel engaging portion will of course be provided with suitable cooperating means to enable it to be readily attached and released.

It is apparent from the foregoing that there is provided according to the present invention a new and novel ski binding which provides a fail-safe arrangement and which always assures release of the heel of a skier in a forward fall when the binding is subjected to a certain predetermined load. The force at which the binding releases can be readily adjusted by employing heel engaging portions of different sizes or strength, and means is provided for enabling simple and rapid attachment and release of the heel engaging portion so that it can be re placed with a minimum of effort and time.- The heel engaging portion will not be substantially affected by icing conditions and is formed of a suitable frangible material which is not substantially affected at its tensile or shear strength by variations in temperature or local icing conditions. The ski binding of the present invention affords an arrangement whereby relatively conventional ski bindings can be readily modified to provide the structure of the present invention with the attendant benefits.

As this invention may be embodied in several forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof, the present embodiment is therefore illustrative and not restrictive, and since the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims, all changes that fall within the metes and bounds of the claims or that form their functional as well as conjointly cooperative equivalents are therefore intended to be embraced bythose claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a ski binding for engaging a ski boot, toe engaging means and heel clamping means cooperableto permit release of a ski boot when subjected to predetermined forces, non-rotatable connector means carried by said ski, said heel clamping means including a strap of plastic material adjustably secured to said connector means and having a portion thereof adapted to break when subjected to a predetermined force to release the heel of an associated ski boot.

2. In a ski binding for engaging a ski boot, toe engaging means and heel clamping means cooperable to permit release of a ski boot when subjectedto predetermined forces, said heel clamping means including a heel engaging portion, tensioning means, resilient connector means connecting said heel engaging portion with said tensioning means, said heel engaging portion being formed of frangible material and including a portion adapted to break when subjected to a predetermined force to release the heel of an associated ski boot.

3. In combination, a ski, a ski binding for engaging a ski boot and including a toe engaging means supported by said ski and heel clamping means supported by said ski, said toe engaging means and heel clamping means cooperable to permit release of a ski boot when subjected to predetermined forces, said heel clamping means including a heel engaging portion, tensioning means, resilient connector means connecting said heel engaging portion with said tensioning means, guide means mounted on said ski for guiding movement of said connector means, said heel engaging portion being formed of frangible material and including a portion adapted to break when subjected to a predetermined force to release the heel of an associated ski boot.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said heel engaging portion comprises a strap of plastic material.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 3 including means for readily connecting said heel engaging portion with said connector means whereby the heel engaging portion may be readily replaced when desired.

6. In combination, a ski, a ski binding for engaging a ski boot and including toe engaging means and heel clamping means cooperable to permit release of a ski boot when subjected to predetermined forces, said toe engaging means being fixedly mounted on said ski, said heel clamping means including a heel engaging portion, tensioning means 30 movably mounted on said ski, resilient connector means interconnecting said heelengaging portion with said tensioning means for tensioning said heel engaging portion against the heel of a ski boot, said ski having opposite side portions, guide means mounted at said opposite said portions for guiding the movement of said connector means, said heel engaging portion being formed of frangible material and including a portion adapted to break when subjected to a predetermined force to release the heel of an associated ski boot.

' 7. In a ski binding for engaging a ski boot, toe engag- 5 ing means and heel clamping means cooperable to permit release of a ski boot when subjected to predetermined forces, said heel clamping means including a heel engaging portion, tensioning means, resilient connector means connecting said heel engaging portion with said tensioning means, said heel engaging portion having formed buttons formed at the opposite ends thereof, said connector means having attaching means formed at the opposite ends thereof, said attaching means including slot means for receiving said buttons so as to interconnect said connector means with said heel engaging portion, said buttons being adapted to shear off at a predetermined force to release the heel of an associated ski boot.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 891,363 -6/ 1908 Nordlander 280-1135 2,198,154 4/1940 Duret 280-11.35 2,665,128 1/1954 Guifey 280-451 X 2,907,574 10/1959 Goy et al 280-11.35 3,039,782 6/1962 Lee 280-11.35

FOREIGN PATENTS 1,327,836 4/ 1963 France.

638,860 11/ 1936 Germany. 169,906 12/ 1951 Austria. 173,073 11/1952 Austria. 801,546 5/1936 France.

r BENJAMIN HERSH, Primary Examiner. MILTON L. SMITH, Assistant Examiner. 

